2022 Impact 50: Marty Diamond

EVP & Managing Executive
Wasserman Music

Marty Diamond is working in the office kitchen trying to prevent beer being spilled on his laptop as the company celebrates the one-year anniversary of Wasserman acquiring Paradigm Talent Agency’s live music assets in April 2021 and rebranding as Wasserman Music. It was a deal over a year in the making, hammered out with the pandemic in full effect. Just last week, Wasserman added Paradigm’s UK live music business as well, further strengthening a roster topped by Ed Sheeran and Billie Eilish which boasts Drake, Coldplay, Brandi Carlile, Lorde, SZA, Frank Ocean, Black Pumas, Imagine Dragons and buzz band newcomers Wet Leg, handled by VP Latane Hughes.

“Since last year, we’ve grown artists, expanded our staff by 60 (in addition to the 72 just added through the acquisition of Paradigm UK) and shown exponential growth,” he says amid the celebration. “We are breaking bands, dominating the festival landscape and, all things considered, in a pretty good place.”

Diamond is particularly high on the Wasserman leadership — Chairman/CEO Casey Wasserman and President Mike Watts – and enjoying the crossover with the company’s sports and marketing properties. “This is an incredibly well-run, well-managed, well-intentioned business,” he says.

Diamond is especially pleased he managed to keep most of the old Paradigm Agency team together under the new leadership. “We realized that we were better off with one another,” he says. “Our goal was not only to build something meaningful but establish a safe haven for our people. We’re a better business for it.”

The just-completed Coachella sported 40 Wasserman Music clients, including Eilish, Flume, Turnstile, Still Woozy, Pink Sweat$, Floating Points and Disclosure. Coldplay launched the U.S. leg of its multi-year “Music of the Spheres” world tour at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on May 6, with Sheeran scheduled for stadiums in 2023.

“I’m excited about the future,” says Diamond. “Every ending is a new beginning.